Scott Johnson said: "We've chosen this squad with two parameters uppermost in our minds: current form and looking to the future.

"Where two players have been vying for the one spot in areas such as the back-row, we've gone with the form option.

"I've been impressed with a number of the young fellows who've helped Glasgow to second place in the Rabo, especially by their work ethic and determination to improve.

"This squad is for our training camp in Glasgow next week and we still have the option to add to it for the Six Nations."

The five new faces are 21-year-old Kennedy, a product of the Alloa and Stirling County clubs who started the season as an elite development player with Edinburgh Rugby but was moved along the M8 on account of injury problems in the nine jersey at Glasgow. Kennedy, an age-grade and Scotland 7s internationalist, has looked sharp at both Glasgow and Stirling.

Sean Maitland, the 24-year-old New Zealand born wing, who qualifies for Scotland through parental grandparents born in Glasgow, was signed from Canterbury Crusaders in October and has already made a considerable impact at Scotstoun.

Pat MacArthur, 25, nurtured by the Ayr club and benefiting from the competition with Dougie Hall, is another to progress from age-grade honours as do his back-row colleagues, Ryan Wilson and Chris Fusaro, both 23.

Fusaro, part of the prolific Howe of Fife nursery, has been knocking on the door for some time now, having played on four occasions for Scotland A and with Ross Rennie and John Barclay both injured, he is the only specialist openside in the squad.

There are recalls for No 8 Johnnie Beattie, who missed out on selection for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and Richie Vernon, Alasdair Dickinson, Moray Low, Robert Harley and Duncan Weir who were not involved during the recent EMC Tests.